Niger army base attacked by Boko Haram

Suspected Boko Haram fighters in motorised canoes have attacked a Niger army base on an island in Lake Chad, the body of water touching all four countries that have been targeted by Nigeria’s Islamic insurgency, says Niger’s defense ministry.

The army may have suffered “heavy losses” in the attack on Karamga Island, said a Niger military source.

Casualty figures were not provided in a defence ministry statement.

“Operations are ongoing with the aid of allies” to put an end to the insurgent movement, the statement said.

Niger joined a regional offensive earlier this year that is credited with retaking large swaths of territory in Nigeria from Boko Haram. The original plans called for a 8 750-member regional force with troops also coming from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Benin.